Miniature morsel: No bigger than a ten pence piece, the Pepquino melon was discovered in South America and is set to become a gourmet treat in top restaurants

Worry not. It is not part of some vile Frankenstein Food experiment, but is 100 per cent natural.

A wild fruit, the Pepquino was discovered by Dutch food producers in South America who brought it to the Netherlands and cultivated it in greenhouses.

While it resembles larger varieties, it has a fresh crisp taste similar to a cucumber and juicy light green flesh.

For those wondering how on earth you scoop the fruit out, there is instant reassurance - the skin is soft and edible. Even better, the pips are edible too. Producers Koppert Cress say it can be eaten as a snack or appetiser, like the olive, in a summer salad,

stir fried or made into a sorbet and teamed with dark chocolate.

They are confident that, with its distinctive appearance and slightly sour taste, it will become the fashionable food of 2009.

Prices start at £10 per 250g box, which contains around 50 melons.

Anneke Cuppen, marketing manager at Koppert Cress, said the business had orders from markets in Birmingham and London.

She said: 'Demand for the melons has so far come from the restaurant and hotel trade.

'We're hoping to sell 50-100 boxes a week. We're very excited about the product. It is highly versatile and can be used in a variety of ways - from salads to dessert.'

The Pepquino most closely resembles the Allsweet variety of watermelon which grows to around 19ins.